Minnesota food bank CEO earns $721,000 while organizations struggle with rising food insecurity

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Minnesota’s food banks are at a breaking point. As food insecurity reaches alarming levels, food banks in the region are struggling to meet skyrocketing demand. But there’s an uncomfortable reality lurking beneath the surface: the people at the top of these organizations are raking in massive salaries while the funding to serve the community is slashed. The question is becoming unavoidable: how can food banks justify such high executive pay when the need for assistance is greater than ever?

At the helm of Second Harvest Heartland, the largest food bank in Minnesota, the pay scale for executives is eye-popping. CEO Allison O’Toole took home a staggering $721,000 in total compensation in 2022. But it doesn’t end there. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) earned $396,000, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) pulled in $371,000, and the Chief Development Officer (CDO) pocketed $347,000. While these roles undoubtedly require skill and expertise, it’s hard to ignore the glaring contrast between such lavish salaries and the rising number of families turning to food banks to survive.

The root of the issue lies in the cuts to federal funding for essential programs like the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which have collectively lost over $1 billion in support. These cuts are having a devastating impact on food banks across the country, including in Minnesota. With fewer resources available, food banks are left scrambling to meet demand. And in the midst of this crisis, executive compensation continues to grow. How is this possible, and why is it happening?

It’s an uncomfortable reality that nonprofit organizations, which are supposed to be about service to the community, often mirror the excesses of for-profit companies. While food banks like Second Harvest Heartland struggle to secure the resources they need to provide fresh, nutritious food, the leadership team’s pay packages are not just large—they’re downright offensive in the face of growing need. When the people leading these organizations are paid more than some executives in major corporations, it raises serious questions about priorities.

The USDA’s decision to cut funding for programs that help food banks buy fresh, local food only deepens the crisis. Without adequate funding for high-quality, nutritious food, food banks are left relying on cheaper, often less healthy alternatives—something that does little to address the root causes of hunger. The loss of these programs means food banks are now in a race against time to secure enough resources to meet the needs of the community. Yet the people in charge continue to earn salaries that would be hard to justify even in the most profitable private sector organizations.

As the public reaction grows louder, it’s clear that Minnesotans are starting to question how these organizations allocate their resources. How can we continue to donate to causes like this when it seems the money is being funneled into the pockets of those at the top instead of directly benefiting those in need? It’s a valid question, and one that many people are asking as they watch the disparity between executive pay and the needs of the community grow wider.

Sources:

https://www.observer-reporter.com/news/local_news/2025/mar/30/usda-funding-cuts-impacting-local-food-banks-schools/
https://www.heraldstandard.com/news/local_news/2025/mar/30/usda-funding-cuts-impacting-local-food-banks-schools/
https://www.americanexperiment.org/a-bitter-harvest/
https://thewatchtowers.org/minnesota-food-bank-is-begging-for-donations-while-its-ceo-makes-721000-per-year-since-usda-funding-got-cut-off/